Ideas???

xaserII · Post by **xaserII** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:51 pm

hey guys ever thought about installing the spare tire outside the car? i was thinking about buying a spare tire holder like one off a jeep or jimmy and putting it on the back hatch.
i dont think you could bolt it to the hatch cause you would have weight issues when the hatch is opened yet if you got one that swings out to the right of the door it would work. i think it would look good and serve several purposes.
also with the space open were the spare usually goes i could put an amp, tools, or traffic narcotics across state lines. the uses are endless.
im also thinking of ditching the rear seats and putting a piece of particle board, cut to size, and carpeting it so the back would be flat and comfy for camping.

:blink:

ohhh so excited i get my tires tomarrow...
x

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 8:40 pm

Mounting the spare with a swing-away carrier is one option, but you'd need to be careful about bracing the mounting point under the sheetmetal in the quarter. When I was traveling 1000 miles a week in my first Tercel, I carried 2 spares on the rack on the roof.

As for the platform idea, I did that once. After I sold the first tercel, I picked up a Mazda GLC hatchback. Since it was a smaller car, I needed to make room for carrying cargo. I removed all but the driver's seat and built a flat platform all the way from the hatch to the back of the seat. I also built a lower platform where the passenger seat used to be. Mine were built of plywood with 2x4 bracing cut to level everything. When I was done I covered it all in carpet to match the interior.

It was a hell of a lot of work for a $200 car, but it was one-of-a-kind when it was finished.

onium · Post by **onium** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:57 pm

I happen to be thinking about these things now too at this very moment. During long, boring drives, I've been cooking up the idea of removing the rear seat (the easy part on an '84), putting in a 2x4 framed platform to sleep on and hatches to get to the rear seat wells to store stuff in. I've also been pondering a fold out bench/table thing with adjustable legs to make the sleeping area longer (I'm 6'2", so can't fit in with a close hatch) and also to serve as a cooking platform. Then, in my wildest dreams, I've been thinking of constructing some kind of tent to enclose the rear platform to allow comfortable sleeping when the weather is crap. Maybe a simple tarp is the best option for that.

To avoid the spare tire issue, I was thinking of rasing the sleeping platform about 8" off the deck. This would serve to lift the fold out table to make cooking easier, allow space to get at the spare, and make room to slide in a couple of rubbermade storage bins, which would be ideal to put wetsuits or other damp gear into. With the fold out, the decreased space from deck to ceiling wouldn't matter too much for sleeping as only my lower torso and legs would be in there. I could still sit up. Kinda. With my head under the rear gate, the cargo lite would make a nice reading light. The tent thing may be a pipe dream, but would be cool in a Pontiac Aztec kind of way. Oh wait, that's not cool at all...

My main worry is adding a bunch of extra weight to an already underpowered car. I'm thinking thin plywood to help this and have considered a bolted together aluminum frame.

for materials I figure:
-- 2 sheets of 4' x 8' x 1/2" ply
-- 47 linear feet of 2" x 4" stud
-- a few heavy duty hinges for the fold-out
-- 16 linear feet of 1" x 4" to support the seat-well cargo hatches
-- bunch of lag bolts w/nuts to make this thing removable
-- wood screws to hold some things together
-- various other hardware.

Maybe $100 for the whole shebang...?

The major problem: I'm not a carpenter. So, this would be a learning experience...

jetswim · Post by **jetswim** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 11:47 pm

You need a VW bus!

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:03 am

onium wrote: I happen to be thinking about these things now too at this very moment. During long, boring drives, I've been cooking up the idea of removing the rear seat (the easy part on an '84), putting in a 2x4 framed platform to sleep on and hatches to get to the rear seat wells to store stuff in. I've also been pondering a fold out bench/table thing with adjustable legs to make the sleeping area longer (I'm 6'2", so can't fit in with a close hatch) and also to serve as a cooking platform. Then, in my wildest dreams, I've been thinking of constructing some kind of tent to enclose the rear platform to allow comfortable sleeping when the weather is crap. Maybe a simple tarp is the best option for that.

To avoid the spare tire issue, I was thinking of rasing the sleeping platform about 8" off the deck. This would serve to lift the fold out table to make cooking easier, allow space to get at the spare, and make room to slide in a couple of rubbermade storage bins, which would be ideal to put wetsuits or other damp gear into. With the fold out, the decreased space from deck to ceiling wouldn't matter too much for sleeping as only my lower torso and legs would be in there. I could still sit up. Kinda. With my head under the rear gate, the cargo lite would make a nice reading light. The tent thing may be a pipe dream, but would be cool in a Pontiac Aztec kind of way. Oh wait, that's not cool at all...

My main worry is adding a bunch of extra weight to an already underpowered car. I'm thinking thin plywood to help this and have considered a bolted together aluminum frame.

for materials I figure:
-- 2 sheets of 4' x 8' x 1/2" ply
-- 47 linear feet of 2" x 4" stud
-- a few heavy duty hinges for the fold-out
-- 16 linear feet of 1" x 4" to support the seat-well cargo hatches
-- bunch of lag bolts w/nuts to make this thing removable
-- wood screws to hold some things together
-- various other hardware.

Maybe $100 for the whole shebang...?

The major problem: I'm not a carpenter. So, this would be a learning experience...

Excellent ideas! That would be really cool. I've been thinking of designing something similar, but a bit simpler. I'd take out the rear seats too, and have a cargo area where they were. But I'd design a folding frame that I could use to lengthen the bed. I'd set it up so that I could move the front seats forward (recline forward) and then fold out the extra piece of bed over the area where the seats were. I'd make some sort of support system for the fold out piece. This way I'd have the length I need (I'm only 5' 10"), and not have to open the hatch up. A roof carrier would be perfect for any extra cargo space that I needed (so I don't have to move anything off the bed before sleeping).

xaserII · Post by **xaserII** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:18 pm

that tent idea at the back of the car is such a cool idea. i have this old tent with a rip in it were the neighborhood dog tryed to punch his way in during a lightning storm that would work perfect so if i screw it up it wouldnt matter.
the rear seats have got to go. how often do you have 2,3,4 people in the car anyway. im out in the nevada desert and i dont travel with others often so i could definatley use the extra room.
I ordered some kc lights for the front. they are only 55 watts but for 50 bucks i guess you get what you pay for. not sure if im going to buy them when they arrive.
so i got 185 80 13s mounted on my car and i think they will be ok even if i do lift the car a couple inches.
next project is to lose the back seats, and maybe a roof rack not sure about my welding skills however i did achieve to fix a tubular bumper on the rear. the welds look like crap but its solid so whatever. i covered it in black paint anyway. <_<
now for the roof rack i was thinking about 1 inch square tubing kinda like a ski rack design. not sure on the brackets though. should i drill holes into the roof and ancher it that way or buy some prefabbed. kinda expensive...
ohhhh the tent idea is crazy cool. you could rig some string or rope to the hatch and roll up the tent so its on the door permanantly. heck with it im doing it.
Killer Ideas guys keep em coming...
x

onium · Post by **onium** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:53 am

You and I think alike. I was thinking along the same lines for the roof rack. I was going to make mine out of 1 inch pipe. It all threads together and with a little lock tite would stay together for a while. If anyone messes with it, no biggie. They make mounts that allow pipe to pass through walls -- threaded on one end and flanged on the bottom with hols for screws/bolts. I was thinking of using those and backing them with 1 x 4 to spread the load across the roof. I don't know if that makes any sense? Since you are in the desert, water isn't an issue as much as it is for me (I'm in Oregon). I'd seal the hell out of everything and maybe make some kind of rubber gasket.

As for the seats, removing them and the carpet is the easiest part of the project. My rear seat cushion wasn't even bolted in. Just a spring clip at the front to pull on. The seat back looks pretty easy too. Just pull out the carpet and undo a bolt or two.

Yeah, keep the ideas coming. We might be on to something with the ultra mini camper.

--

clbolt · Post by **clbolt** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 12:18 pm

There's a seller on ebay offering a new tent and awning for a Pontiac Aztek for $119 with free shipping. It might be easier to modify the Aztek tent to work with the Tercel than to start from scratch with a generic tent.

Juando · Post by **Juando** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 1:44 pm

You and I think alike. I was thinking along the same lines for the roof rack. I was going to make mine out of 1 inch pipe. It all threads together and with a little lock tite would stay together for a while. If anyone messes with it, no biggie. They make mounts that allow pipe to pass through walls -- threaded on one end and flanged on the bottom with hols for screws/bolts. I was thinking of using those and backing them with 1 x 4 to spread the load across the roof. I don't know if that makes any sense? Since you are in the desert, water isn't an issue as much as it is for me (I'm in Oregon). I'd seal the hell out of everything and maybe make some kind of rubber gasket.

what part of Oregon are you from Omium? I live in the Eugene area. Nice to see a fellow Ore-gun-ian in here.

Anywho, my plans are soo different than most..and I know some of you don't approve with it because it kind of goes against what the tercel really aspires to be...but I am still going ahead with the convertable plan. I have money saved now (well mostly, I just bought my g/f a laptop for our anniversary) and i want to find an 84/85 with no rust and no dents. Cut the top off, add a roll cage and have a snap on soft top custom made(about $1000 for that I now know if I "don't want it to leak" as the designer put it...no duh.).......can't wait

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:20 am

Nutsy people.
It could be done, perhaps with using the sub-platform as a storage area.

Make it into a big subwoofer box! lol.
I regularly have 4 passengers, so I need the rear seats.

I toyed with the thought, but I imagine that if you have good skills, you could cut the butt off the Terc, and put in a tube support network to lengthen the back a foot or so.
I'm 6 foot, so I appreciate your height frustration.
If you did lengthen it, you could angle the back a bit more so that you have a bit better aerodynamics to compensate for the added weight.

Has anyone considered the strength the back seats add in 4wd under a full-power takeoff while torquing by road condition? They are a key part of the torsional strength, are they not?

3A-C Power · Post by **3A-C Power** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 8:04 am

The Terc is a great car to sleep in. I've travelled and slept in mine in all temperatures. What would really improve sleeping capacity is to be able to fold the rear seats completely flat and then have a flat surface extend as far forward as possible with the front seats moved further forward than is originally provided for. Other tercels besides the 4WD had the option of folding the seat cushion forward to provide clearance for the seatbacks to go further down. A futon mattress is awesome in the back of the terc, it's like sleeping in your own bed at home, almost, but it doesn't compact at all. Air mattresses are handy but not nearly as comfortable.

For hot temperatures what you need are window screens and some sort of fan that you can leave on all night without killing the battery. For colder temperatures some insulation packed into all the sheet metal cavities would be an improvement.

onium · Post by **onium** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 8:22 pm

Update -- I've removed the seats (These are offered up in the parts section for free if anyone wants them) and found that the hinges and their attachment points will make good places to begin to fasten down the sleeping frame. My wagon had the split rear seat, so the center hinge will be nice to support a little extra weight. I bought some 2 x 4s today to begin the build up. Having those in the car give scale as to how small this car really is inside. I'm thinking two 2 x 4s running the length of the cargo area as joists with a couple of 2 x 4s running across. There will be 6 legs (two long ones behind the front seats, two short ones that attach to the seat hinge mount points, and two really short legs at the rear gate.) I'll cut a hatch in the deck to get at the spare, but it's going to be tight under there.

for now...

GTSSportCoupe · Post by **GTSSportCoupe** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:49 am

onium wrote: Update -- I've removed the seats (These are offered up in the parts section for free if anyone wants them) and found that the hinges and their attachment points will make good places to begin to fasten down the sleeping frame. My wagon had the split rear seat, so the center hinge will be nice to support a little extra weight. I bought some 2 x 4s today to begin the build up. Having those in the car give scale as to how small this car really is inside. I'm thinking two 2 x 4s running the length of the cargo area as joists with a couple of 2 x 4s running across. There will be 6 legs (two long ones behind the front seats, two short ones that attach to the seat hinge mount points, and two really short legs at the rear gate.) I'll cut a hatch in the deck to get at the spare, but it's going to be tight under there.

for now...

That sounds awesome! Please take pics when you are done!

Typrus · Post by **Typrus** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:49 pm

You people are crazy lol. Awesome idea! Please let us know how that progresses!

brianp · Post by **brianp** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 12:15 pm

Does the Tercel hatchback or coupe's front seats fold forward to let people into the back? I've seen this on other 2 door cars, so maybe it would be possible to put some seats from one into the wagon so you could get more space for sleeping. Just a thought, have no idea if it would work.